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The professional wrestling business is cut - throat; everyone involved is inherently looking out for themselves. They say that you need to step on some toes and ruffle a few feathers to make it in the business. At the end of the day, the success or failure of a performer in the industry depends on how well they managed to ‘play the game’.
That being said, professional wrestling, for several Superstars over the years, has been a family business. From the legendary Guerrero family to the Harts and the Anoa’i’s, these famous wrestling families have produced many legendary Superstars. However, not everyone can be a success in the wrestling business.
Today, we take a look at the ten past and present WWE Superstars that were overshadowed by a more famous sibling.
#10 Eric Angle
Kurt Angle returned to WWE earlier this year, after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Kurt will go down in the history books as one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time. In his illustrious career, The Olympic Gold Medalist has won numerous world titles and was known as a wrestling machine. However, very few would remember his brother, Eric Angle, who also worked for WWE.
Back in 2000, Eric Angle made his WWE debut at the Survivor Series PPV, helping his brother retain the WWE Championship against The Undertaker. Eric was offered a developmental contract and returned to WWE TV in 2003 on SmackDown, once again helping his brother in retaining the WWE Championship, this time against Brock Lesnar.
Eric was attacked by Lesnar the following week after which he was released by the company.
#9 Primo Colon
Call them “The Shining Stars” or just The Colons, Primo and Epico have been languishing in the bowels of WWE’s mid-card for years. Primo, son of legendary Carlos Colon Sr, signed with the promotion back in 2008 and is a three-time tag team champion - winning the World Tag Team Championship once and the WWE Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions.
However, Primo’s accomplishments have been overshadowed by those of his brother. Carlito made history when he won the WWE United States Championship in his debut match on SmackDown. Carlito was one of the top stars in the company and was tipped for great things. However, his attitude backstage didn’t win him any admirers, and he left the company in 2010.
Carlito also won the WWE Intercontinental Championship during his tenure with the company and tag team gold on two separate occasions.
#8 Rick Steiner
Rick Steiner is a legend in his own right. Rick won the World Tag Team Championship on eight different occasions during his time in WCW and also won the United States Championship and the World TV title. During his initial WWE run, Rick won the tag team gold on two different occasions. However, when we talk about The Steiner Brothers, more often than not, we end up talking about Scott Steiner.
Scott is a three time world champion and is remembered for his (in)famous rants about the likes of Samoa Joe and Ric Flair. Scott was also WCW’s seventh Triple Crown Champion and nearly won the World Heavyweight title during his feud with Triple H over a decade ago in WWE. Needless to say, while Scott was successful in his singles career, Rick was never truly able to get out of his brother’s shadow.
#7 Rockin’ Robin
Rockin’ Robin made history when she became the WWE Women’s Champion back in 1988 and held the title for two years until the championship was retired by the promotion. The daughter of Aurelian “Grizzly” Smith, Robin was destined for greatness in the professional wrestling industry. Robin never lost the Women’s Championship, but the promotion had to retire the title after she left the promotion in 1990.
While Robin’s run as the champion was phenomenal, very few remember her accomplishments. It was also during this time that her half - brother, Jake “The Snake” Roberts was making waves as one of the most intriguing characters in professional wrestling. Jake, while still being a devious villain, was cheered by the fans during his matches with the likes of Randy Savage, and later when he attacked Hulk Hogan.
#6 John Laurinaitis
Before yelling “People Power” in the WWE, Johnny Ace was wrestling in some of the biggest promotions in the world. From WCW to AJPW, Laurinaitis took part in some high - profile matches, including against Mitsuharu Misawa for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. However, throughout his career as a singles wrestler, he was overshadowed by his brother, who was one-half of one of the greatest tag teams of all time.
Joe Laurinaitis, better known to the wrestling fans as Road Warrior Animal, was one half of The Road Warriors/Legion of Doom. Animal and Hawk formed the legendary tag team and won numerous tag team titles in various promotions. In WWE, Animal won the WWE Tag Team Championship on three different occasions - two times with Hawk, and once with Heidenreich.
#5 Bo Dallas
The former NXT Champion may preach for people to “Bo-lieve” in themselves, but it must have been difficult for Bo to sit on the sidelines and watch his brother become the WWE Champion. Bo Dallas and his brother, Bray Wyatt, are the sons of former WWE Superstar, Irwin R. Schyster (better known as IRS).
Both Bray and Bo worked their way up from FCW and NXT, with Bray previously donning the moniker of Husky Harris. While both the brothers are now on the main roster, Bo has been nothing but a curtain jerker in the company. Wyatt, on the other hand, has won numerous championships - including the WWE title and defended the prestigious Championship against Orton at WrestleMania earlier this year.
Also read: 5 scariest looking Superstars in WWE history
#4 Matt Anoa’i/Rosey
Matt Anoa’i, better known as Rosey to the WWE Universe, is a former WWE tag team champion. Rosey was initially a part of the “Three Minute Warning” tag team, and later joined forces with The Hurricane, as the local Super Hero In Training (S.H.I.T). However, Rosey was released from the promotion in 2006, and a few years later, his brother emerged as the company’s next flag bearer.
Roman Reigns made his main roster debut along with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, and once the faction disbanded, Reigns captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on three occasions. Reigns also won the WWE United States Champion, and is a former tag team champion, aside from winning the 2015 edition of the Royal Rumble match.
#3 Deuce/Sim Snuka
“Superfly” Jimmy Snuka is remembered for his death - defying leaps, and for the infamous Piper’s Pit segment all those years ago. What many people wouldn’t remember, though, is the fact that Jimmy’s son is a former WWE tag team champion! Sim Snuka competed on WWE’s main roster from 2007 to 2009, before being released by the organisation. Snuka, competing under the ring name Deuce, won the tag team gold on SmackDown along with his partner, Domino before being traded to RAW.
However, not many remember Deuce/Sim Snuka’s time in the company, other than for that one solitary instance when he failed to catch The Undertaker at WrestleMania, leading to the Deadman falling on his head! His sister, Tamina however has been with the company since 2010. While Tamina hasn’t won any championships in this time, she has managed the likes of AJ Lee and The Usos, and is more recognisable than her brother.
Also read: 5 professional wrestlers with the best MMA records
#2 Hector Guerrero
The Guerrero family is among the few legendary wrestling families, with Gory Guerrero being one of the most respected promoters in the country. Hector Guerrero worked with some of the major wrestling promotions in North America, including the WWE and more recently, TNA Impact Wrestling. Hector made his WWE debut at the Survivor Series in 1990, dressed as the Gobbledy Gooker.
While Hector is a respected veteran, his brother, Eddie Guerrero became one of the best wrestlers in the history of the business and one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time. Eddie also won the WWE Championship, along with a host of other titles in the promotion, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
#1 Owen Hart
At number one is arguably the most talented wrestler to have never won a world title in WWE. To many, Owen was the complete package and was a more technically sound wrestler than his brother, Bret Hart. Owen Hart competed under different monickers and gimmicks, but his heel run in WWE saw him almost winning the WWE Championship.
Owen was never quite able to get out of his brother’s shadow, and this was also used as a part of the storyline during their feud. Owen was a versatile wrestler, who could either wrestle a technically sound match or put on a high flying clinic. His match with Bret at SummerSlam in 1994 is considered to be one of the greatest matches of all time, and while the fans remember Owen to this day, the fact that he was Bret’s younger brother stunted his growth in the company.
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